Women workers swell the ranks of older workers.

The biggest influence on the upward trend is the rise of women's participation which went from 8% to 62% between 1976 and 2006 for those aged 55 to 59, and from 24% to 37% for those aged 60 to 64.

Among the distinguishing characteristics of this age group from core-aged workers (those aged 25 to 54):

* one in four workers is self-employed;

* one in five works part-time.

Two-thirds of older workers who work part-time do so from choice, compared with only 28% of core-aged, part-time workers, suggesting transitional changes before retirement.

The study indicates that the labour shortage threatened by workers choosing early retirement has been reduced considerably.

The study, Participation of Older Workers, was prepared by Katherine Marshall and Vincent Ferrao. [e-mail]